NBAA 20th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

Conference Podcasts and Presentations

Review the agenda below to access podcasts and presentations from the NBAA 20th Annual S&D Conference, held from January 13 to 16, in Long Beach, CA. Themed "Honoring our Heritage, Reaching for New Heights," the milestone 20th anniversary Conference provided instruction, training and exhibits designed to benefit schedulers and dispatchers of every experience level.

Podcasts and Presentations will be posted during the course of the conference.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Keynote Speaker
Walt Disney once said, “You don’t build it for yourself, you know what people want, and you build it for them.” This fundamental principle still guides the best practices of the Walt Disney World resort, the world’s number one vacation destination and acknowledged benchmark in providing world-class guest service. Our keynote speaker joins us from The Disney Institute to explain the concept of “Guestology”: The Magic of Measurement. In this fast-paced, thought-provoking presentation, they will share personal stories, anecdotes, and key business insights gleaned from their own experiences serving guests as a Walt Disney Cast Member. Hear how the goal of exceeding your customer’s expectations can be brought to life through Guestology – Disney’s process of knowing and understanding the needs, wants and expectations of tens of millions of guests each year.

Highlighting the vision and ideals of Walt Disney, Disney Institute is a recognized leader in experiential training, leadership development, benchmarking and cultural change for business professionals across the globe.

How often have you had to get an important message to a flight crew or passenger while the aircraft is still airborne? Or, how often have your passengers had important business activities to conduct while enroute on an extended flight without computer connectivity or online access to email, presentations, or the Internet? These are only some of the communication challenges most business travelers experience. Session attendees will learn about some of the advances in aviation technology and services that make it easier to communicate with business aircraft, and that can enable increased productivity and communication for in-flight passengers.

Fuel Saving Tools You Can Use
Location: Room 102ABC
(Intermediate Session; SEBA Level 3)
Presented by Derek Lang, DB Aviation, Trish
Jones, Colleen Corporation and Erik Perkins,
ExxonMobil Corporation
Do you feel that you have the best tools to save your company money on fuel? You will have the chance to hear from a panel of FAR Part 91 and 135 schedulers who will share their secrets of success. Topics will include contract fuel, software programs, fuel management companies and negotiating prices with an FBO directly.

The act of “Going Green” has ingrained itself in all aspects of our society; from building homes and commercial buildings to manufacturing and transportation. What is business aviation doing to become more environmentally responsible and how has the “Green Phenomenon” affected the way we operate and manufacture airplanes? This session will attempt to answer these questions and many more in a non-political, unbiased forum.

Is your flight department going to be experiencing major projects or changes such as a hangar expansion, fuel farm addition, or software package changeover? How do you assist various departments when working on a fleet strategy assessment? Growing your capabilities, knowledge and demonstrating leadership skills by being directly involved in these types of projects will increase your value to your company. Learn the skills of an efficient and valuable project manager in this course.

Many of the problems encountered by flight crews and aircraft dispatchers have very little to do with the technical aspects of flight operations.
Instead, most are associated with poor group decision-making, ineffective communication, inadequate leadership, and poor task or resource management. Historically, aircraft dispatcher training programs have focused almost exclusively on the “how to” aspects of dispatching and on an individual dispatcher’s performance; these programs did not effectively address resource management issues fundamental to safe flight. Human factors awareness should be an everyday part of a Dispatcher’s workplace environment and culture. More importantly, the resourcefulness displayed while making critical decisions is a skill every Scheduler/Dispatcher can use to their advantage.

Industry veterans will discuss basic scheduling for FAR Part 135 operators. Explore crew scheduling and flight coordination. Learn about maintenance differences between Part 135 and Part 91 operations. Get tips on trip preparation and a list of valuable reference resources you can use to make every trip a success!

Are you a new FAR Part 91 scheduler or interested in this career? Join our interactive session on scheduling in a Part 91 flight operation. Our panel of veteran schedulers will share their expertise on what strategies have worked best for them, as well as those practices to avoid. Topics will include basic scheduling concepts and terminology, trip planning from start to finish, and how to get the most out of your scheduling software. Finally, the session will teach you how to successfully leverage the many resources including Regional Groups, NBAA membership, conferences and SPDPs, available to you.

Costs associated with operating your aircraft can be substantial and difficult to identify and understand. This workshop will define operating costs and provide an overview of the aviation budgeting processes and basic accounting principles needed to develop a department budget. At the completion of this workshop, each participant will have a better understanding of how to identify, understand and manage the costs associated aviation department operation.

This session will take an in-depth look at the regulations and requirements surrounding flight planning with RNAV, RAIM, ETOPS and ICAO filing. An FAA representative will provide the most up-to-date information for 2009.

Sick and tired of work, or could work be making you sick and tired? All schedulers have stressful days! We often work long hours, and the stress and fatigue can affect our performance, physical well-being and safety. Even the way our offices and desks are configured can negatively affect our health. These are only a few of many human factors that can affect our performance and safety of operations. In this session you will learn how you can change the way you work to improve your performance and your health. Learn what many companies are doing today to build a healthier, safer environment for their employees, and learn how to apply them to your flight department.

Are you ‘feeling’ what is being said, or simply hearing their words? At times our emotions can get in the way of clear and accurate communication, especially with that “dreaded dialogue.” Rather than react to conflict and tension on a purely emotional level, learn to manage and control these disagreements confidently and proactively. This session will help you develop your listening skills by familiarizing you with five listening approaches and communication derailers. The session will also guide you through a step-by-step process to resolve friction, minimize negative emotions and prevent subsequent miscommunications. There will be group participation in role playing and practice using true-to-life experiences.

If your next trip requires international travel, then the detailed regional overviews offered in this session will be valuable to you. Packed with useful, specific information about operating overseas, Part 1 covers Europe, Russia and China. (Part 2 is presented on January 15,1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and covers Africa, theMiddle East and the “Stan” countries.)

Every supervisor, manager and executive must master the essentials of leadership to be effective. One leadership challenge is managing employees who are at different levels of performance and potential. In this interactive session, we will uncover a versatile management tool to help you identify the various reasons why your many employees perform at different levels. This tool can be applied to yourself, as well as to the people you manage. You will also learn about a coaching model to help you practically and effectively improve employee performance.

As new security programs are developed for business aviation, operators conducting international flights may face additional requirements, such as submitting passenger manifest information through the Customs and Border Protection’s Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). This presentation will provide an overview of the proposed APIS submission requirements for FAR Part 91 operators and review current APIS requirements for Part 135 air carriers. In addition, an update on security programs and best practices for business aircraft will be provided.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

8:30 am – 10:15 am

Break-Out Sessions

TSA’s Large Aircraft Security Program – What It Means For You & How to Respond
Location: Room 104B

TSA has proposed sweeping new security regulations for private aircraft operations. Many of the requirements were designed for scheduled airlines and would have a dramatic affect on the flexibility and utility of business aircraft. Presenters from NBAA’s staff and Security Council will present and in-depth review of the TSA proposal along with guidance for forming effective Member responses. The deadline for comments to the TSA is February 27, 2009. Use this session to provide an efficient means of developing and submitting your comments to the proposal.

Are you planning your first international trip or have you done many before? Either way, you need to be more prepared than ever before in today’s complex international environment. Where do you start? How do you determine if you have covered all your bases? From trip inception to the aircraft landing at home base, every stage of the trip poses unique challenges that need to be overcome to ensure a positive experience for your passengers. This session will provide a foundation in developing a checklist to help you facilitate successful international trips.

Getting Through Customs Failure to understand and appreciate cultural sensitivities can be a stumbling block to doing business effectively overseas. This session will help you develop a respect for regional, country, and cultural differences worldwide. Learn the importance of understanding the uniqueness of cultures and how to apply the skills of proper business etiquette and manners to
become more successful. This session will also cover cell phone and PDA etiquette (texting, calling, and emailing). Speaker Terri Morrison is the co-Author of Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands.

The IRS, FAA and SEC each have separate, sometimes conflicting rules for dealing with personal use of company owned or chartered aircraft. These rules changed significantly in 2004 and continue to evolve. This session will explore the specific IRS rules and regulations, FAA regulatory considerations, and SEC disclosure requirements for companies (private and public) and employees who use the corporate aircraft. This session also will address the differences between business, personal and entertainment use of aircraft and how to deal with the inevitable mixed-use flights. Record keeping and internal reporting will be discussed, and will include practical examples and “real life” situations. A question and answer period will follow.

How often do your executives/customers ask, “Which is the best airport to use in the New York Metro area?” There are many factors to consider when answering this question. Session attendees will receive an overview of the New York Metro airspace and examine the air traffic flow complexities associated with this complicated area. They will also gain knowledge of airport specific details on how each airport is affected by various runway configurations.

Are you taking full advantage of your NBAA Membership?Attend this session to learn what you can do to assist your flight department in getting the most out of your membership dollars. This session will cover a variety of topics, such as: NBAA staff role overview, NBAA GA Desk, educational opportunities including PDP/SPDP, defining the SEBA and CAM program, NBAA’s Airmail, legislative initiatives, an overview of various conferences and seminars, and how to get involved locally. Attend this session and get the most out of your NBAA Membership and look like a hero in your flight department!

Join us for this special luncheon program featuring our training and scholarship winners, SPDP plaque recipients, and special guest speaker Ralph Hood. Well-known in aviation circles, Ralph is an award winning writer and author whose presentations combine wit, practical advice and an in-depth understanding of the aviation industry. He will serve as both emcee and presenter, revealing the Top 5 Milestones that changed the way Schedulers and Dispatchers do their job, as voted on by the S&D community.

Public speaking can be challenging, but don’t let your fears prevent you from reaching your goals! Join this interactive session to learn one critical thing you must do for all speaking engagements and at least three tips to ease your nerves while presenting in front of an audience. You will walk away from this session armed with the tools needed for speaking and creating PowerPoint
presentations like a pro!

A Safety Management System (SMS) can be an operational cornerstone for your flight department. Commercial flight departments operating under ICAO will be required to have a SMS in 2009, and non-commercial operators will need an SMS by November 2010. Your role and participation as the scheduler or dispatcher will be crucial to the development, integration and successful implementation of your flight department’s SMS. Take home the knowledge and tools to proactively mitigate risk within your flight department and take practical steps towards the development of a SMS for your flight department.

The classic strategy of winning at chess is to think three steps ahead of your opponent. Anticipate what is going to happen, before it happens. This is the tactic that successful aviation managers use to run their departments. In order to be ready to deal with problems and situations that may occur, managers must try and ascertain what contingencies could arise. What if my plane breaks down in a relatively remote city overseas with the chairman on board? The company is expanding in Asia, what type of aircraft will we need to fly there? Fuel prices are through the roof and the budget is being scrutinized closer than ever; how do I keep within the budget and still maintain the level of service to which my customers are accustomed? These are the questions aviation managers must be prepared to answer. Come to this session and learn how to think three steps ahead of your aviation problems.

Mini-IOC Part 2
Location: Room 101AB
(Please note this session is 30 minutes longer than the other sessions at this time period)
(Intermediate Session; SEBA Level 3)
Presented by Michael Ouellete, Baseops International and Stacy Hodges, Jeppesen

If your next trip requires international travel, then the detailed regional overviews offered in this session will be valuable to you. Packed with useful, specific information about operating overseas, Part 2 covers Africa, the Middle East and the “Stan” countries. (Part 1 is presented on January 14, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm and covers Europe, Russia and China.)

Hindsight is 20/20. Would you do anything differently if faced with the same situation again? Is there a better way to handle routine tasks? This breakout session provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, tips and techniques with fellow schedulers and dispatchers so you can develop effective strategies for handling various scenarios common to most flight departments. Experienced schedulers and dispatchers will present their views and share procedures for dealing with: customer/scheduling interface, scheduling/crew communications, scheduling procedures/protocol documentation, checklists, etc. Audience participation is expected, as your knowledge and experience may benefit others.

Do you work with someone who is texting while you’re trying to conduct a meeting or with someone who refuses to carry a PDA because it’s too complicated? Do you work with someone who refuses every promotion they are offered and is out the door at 5:00 pm on the dot? If so, this session is for you… Communication styles are generally equated with personality, gender, and even occupation. However, intergenerational communication challenges now exist in the aviation workplace. In this fun and interactive session,
participants will work together to define the communication tendencies of different generations, and the challenges that occur in the workplace as a result. Participants will leave the session with solutions to solve communication challenges across the ages, thereby increasing organizational effectiveness.

Regional scheduler and dispatcher groups have been around almost as long as the S&D Conference. What has made the longest-lived regional groups successful? Learn what steps to take to establish and sustain a successful regional group.

It’s no secret that flying business aircraft can be costly. In this session, learn how to unlock and promote the value of business aviation, to those both internal and external to your flight department. Using the framework of “the value proposition,” economic concepts will be brought to life through aviation and non-aviation examples. You will learn how to create and measure value, as well as key strategies for reporting and promoting value to senior management. Special attention will be focused on performance data analysis, fleet strategy assessments and industry benchmarking.

Did you just get a bill for air navigation fees for a trip that was completed three months ago? What is the difference between the fees charged by your trip support provider and the third-party fees they pass through to you? A panel consisting of service providers, a worldwide ground support provider, and a flight department representative will discuss these questions and more. Attendees will gain valuable understanding critical in reconciling the trip against the charges received.

What is a “Southern Border of Entry” airport? Where is 30 degrees south latitude? Who contacts CANPASS? What is cabotage, and to
whom does it apply? This panel of experts will discuss issues related to flying across the borders of Canada, the USA and Mexico. Topics to be covered include CANPASS, cabotage, crossborder documentation requirements and future regulations.

An emergency within your flight department can come in many forms - from minor to catastrophic. But the one thing you can count on: they always take you by surprise! It is essential to have a plan for handling the catastrophic emergency, but it is far more likely the emergency will be less than catastrophic. Having a team that is empowered, understands their responsibilities and can work together is a must in handling and resolving all degrees of misfortune. The role of the scheduler/dispatcher in these situations can be critical. This
session will dissect an actual emergency: We will evaluate decisions made, actions taken, adjustments done, and roles department members
played in resolving an emergency situation, as well as the ramifications of those actions and the long-term complexities that require attention well after the situation is resolved.

In this world of volatile fuel prices, unpredictable demand, increasing regulation and uncertainty, it is easy to lose sight of the potential and possibilities inherent in your staff, yourself and your organization. This dynamic presentation will help you develop a plan to give purpose and meaning to your work as a leader, as well as direction to your career and life. Topics will include:

An assessment that will help you determine if you are stuck and what new direction you’d like to pursue

A presentation on the “Six Stages to High Altitude Leadership,” which will support
and propel you to action

Small group discussions following the presentation to gain insight into new possibilities

Many schedulers will face this decision sometime during their career. What does a licensed dispatcher do and what does it take to become one? Does it add value to your flight department? Is this the right choice for you and your career path? Our panel will provide answers to these tough questions and help you make an informed decision.

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